virulently

Thân thiện

An angry old woman shakes her fist virulently at a passerby.

Definition

Adverb: 1. In a manner characterized by extreme severity, harmfulness, or hostility: Describes an action done with intense bitterness, malice, or aggression. 2. In a manner that is extremely poisonous or infectious: Describes something acting with the rapid, severe, and harmful qualities of a potent disease or poison. (This meaning is less common in general usage than the first).

Usage and Examples

• Adverb (Hostile/Bitter Manner):

  • The politician spoke virulently against the new policy, attacking its proponents with personal insults.
  • The two critics virulently disagreed on the film's merits, their debate turning into a public feud.
  • [From Context] "An old woman advanced a few paces to shake her fist virulently in my face."

• Adverb (Poisonous/Infectious Manner - less common):

  • The strain of bacteria spread virulently through the population, overwhelming healthcare systems.
  • The toxin acts virulently, causing rapid system failure.

Advanced Usage

• "to oppose/attack/criticize someone/something virulently": This is a common collocation, emphasizing the fierce and hostile nature of the opposition or criticism.
  • The group was virulently opposed to any changes in the law.

Variants and Related Words

• Virulent (adjective): The base form.
  • a virulent strain of flu (extremely severe/infectious)
  • virulent criticism (bitter and hostile)
• Virulence (noun): The quality or state of being virulent.
  • the virulence of the disease
  • the virulence of his remarks

Synonyms

• Bitterly
• Acrimoniously
• Venomously
• Maliciously
• Viciously
• Hostilely

Antonyms

• Gently
• Kindly
• Benevolently
• Mildly
• Peacefully

Notes on Meaning

The primary and most frequent use of virulently relates to expressing extreme hostility, bitterness, or malice in speech, writing, or action. While its original and technical meaning relates to disease ("acting like a poison"), this sense is now more specific to medical/biological contexts. In everyday language, when someone acts or speaks virulently, they are being aggressively hostile.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. in a virulent manner
   • an old woman advanced a few paces to shake her fist virulently in my face